Page 53 of Framed and Forgotten
Her Koen.
Her mate.
Just like that, she shattered. Her body quivered as she came undone, safe in my arms, where she would always belong. I followed her right over the edge, the intensity of our reunion too emotional, too enthralling. The high was all-consuming, wave after wave of pleasure rolling over me, spurt after spurt of my cum coating her walls, covering her in me.
When my legs began to shake, I leaned my forearm against the wall for support, my other hand still cradling her. Our chests pressed together, sweat-slicked and tangled, as the heat between us began to ebb. The aftermath settled in, and all that remained was a profound, undeniable peace.
With my eyes still shut, I exhaled softly, “Maybe you’re right.” I took a steady breath, my voice growing stronger as I added, “Maybe fate never really intended for us to stay together.”
Finally, my eyelids fluttered open, and the world narrowed down to her eyes - stubborn, wild, yet peaceful now, like the storm had passed. Home. I held her stare, never wanting this moment to end.
“But as long as we keep finding our way back to each other, I don’t give a damn what destiny has to say.”
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A V R I L
What the fuckjust happened?
When I made the decision to come see Koen, all I wanted was an answer. While I was aware his response could change the way I perceived him, never in a million years had I expected this outcome. I’d made up my mind. I was determined to stay away from him. So why couldn’t I?
It was as though this male, the man I’d sworn never to fall for again, understood me better than I understood myself. He knew exactly which buttons to push to shut off my rationality, and when instinct came forth, all I could feel was a limitless, unhinged desire. Like a primal need, it hit so hard, so fast, the whole thing blurred. I was lost to the mating haze.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt this - at the mercy of someone else - but then again, maybe that was the issue. Despite Elijah’s warning, I hadn’t given it much thought. Not until now. Not until I experienced exactly what he’d meant. There seemed to be a whole other part of me I hadn’t even known existed buried within me. Memory or not, Koen had dragged it to the surface.
And now I was questioning everything I thought I knew.
My mind was a wreck as I stared out the window, hands clenched too tightly around the sill as I desperately fought to ground myself. Even my wolf, always so sure, was faltering. Her toughness cracked as she ached for the mate we’d forgotten, still somehow, impossibly, able to feel his essence beneath our skin.
Was any of this even real? I could barely wrap my head around it. If it weren’t for the blood - Koen’s blood - crusted beneath my nails, evidence of how wildly I craved him, I might’ve managed to convince myself it had all been just a dirty fantasy.
What should I do? How could I handle this? If only I could remember the full story…
“Argh!” My head jerked painfully as the headache struck again, preventing me from searching below the surface.
In an instant, Koen’s arms were around my stomach, making me shudder. His bare chest pressed against my back, radiating heat, encouraging me to melt under him. What was this insane effect he had on me? I didn’t dare try to comprehend.
Tenderly, he pressed a kiss to the back of my head. “Don’t try to understand it,” he advised, though it sounded more like a plea - as if he couldn’t stand seeing me in pain. Subsequently, he buried his nose into my hair, sending pleasant shivers down my body as he brushed the nape of my neck. “Just feel it.”
At first, I listened as if his words were a command, hypnotized by him. I let my shoulders slump as my head tilted backward, longing for more of his touch. Then, I stopped myself, stiffening as I hung onto my very last drop of rationality.
“How?” I uttered, my voice laced with doubt. “How can I give in to something I don’t understand?”
I shifted in his arms, slowly turning to face him. As my eyes met his, I asked, “How do I know I can trust you?”
Something changed in his expression. Shame. He knew he had failed me, not once, but twice. And his remorse was palpable.
“I don’t expect you to. Not until I can earn back your trust,” he offered, his voice tinged with regret. With a sigh, he added, “I broke it. It’s my burden to fix.”
Releasing another sigh, he let his hands slide down my sides until they met mine. His fingers interlaced with mine - a gesture so natural, it felt destined. Without breaking eye contact, he lifted our hands, adjusting his hold before bringing them to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on my knuckles.
“For now, if you can only let me show you, Avril…” he begged. “How madly I love you. How badly I want to make this right.”
I was thoughtful for a moment. All the while, he stared at me with expectation. As if his very life lay in my hands.
My heart skipped a beat, and I reluctantly granted, “Say I agree to this…” A spark immediately glistened in his eyes, and I pretended not to notice Kea wagging her tail. “What do you propose?”
